Musimbi Kanyoro

Legacy Advisory Board, Packard Foundation Director and Immediate Past Secretary General of the World YWCA Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro

"A Kenyan social scientist, educator and activist, she is the current Population Program Director of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and immediate past Secretary General (CEO) of the World YWCA. Under her leadership, the World YWCA led social and economic change in 125 countries around the world, empowering 25 million women and girls. She was the first woman from the developing world in 150 years of the organization's existence to hold the position of General-Secretary.

"Dr Kanyoro currently elected as a Director of the Population Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (Packard Foundation). She also provides volunteer leadership for a number of non-government organizations. She is the President of ISIS-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange and a member of the Board of Directors of the African Population and Health Research Center (AFHRC)...

"She received the 2006 Kenyan Presidential Award, the prestigious Wittenberg Award from the Luther Institute (2000) and a Human Rights Award from Church Women United (1999).

"She has made a significant contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS by steering the YWCA involvement and by personally serving on various committees. She serves as coordinator of the 400-member Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians and a board member of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. She also serves on the International Planning Group on HIV/AIDS and UNAIDS, and on an advisory panel for Alan Guttmacher Institute focused on protecting new generations from HIV infection as well as the Gender, Faith and HIV/AIDS initiative of Yale Divinity School. She is a founding member of the alliance of seven international youth organizations working to empower youth against HIV and AIDS.

"She worked as Executive Secretary for the Women in Church and Society, Lutheran World between 1982 and 1997. Prior to that she was a Translation Consultant.

"She earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Texas (1980) and a Doctor of Ministry from the San Francisco Theological Seminary (1999). Dr. Kanyoro was a awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree for her contribution to Christian Theology from the Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1999.

"Dr. Kanyoro is married and has two children."


 * Advisory Board, Legacy: Humanity's Memory Bank